Solving the Problem

Posted on August 6, 2015 by jesustrek

leaky roofA politician recently visited our local elementary school to evaluate the need to replace the old facility. A student had been picked out to serve as a guide, escorting the politician around the building. At one point, the politician asked the student if there were any problems when it rains. He replied, “No, it’s not a problem. We know where to put the buckets now!”

Sometimes that’s how we “solve” the problems in our lives. Rather than come up with real and lasting solutions, we place buckets in various places and act as if the problem is solved.

Maybe it’s time we start to really deal with the sins and shortcomings in our lives.

“Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.”—1 Timothy 4:15.

 

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What’s My Name?

Posted on August 5, 2015 by jesustrek

checkMy wife does most of our banking, so she is always asking me to sign checks so she can take them to the bank. I always have to look to see how to sign my name. Some checks have my full name, “Thomas”, while others are made out to “Tom”. A check may or may not have my middle initial. Some of them include “Jr.” after my name. There are a lot of different combinations that are possible. Often, before signing a check, I will look at it and say out loud, “OK, who am I this time?”

It’s good to know that if you are a child of God, he always knows who you are. He knows your name. He knows everything about you…and he loves you anyway!

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!…”—1 John 3:1.

 

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Listen Up!

Posted on August 1, 2015 by jesustrek

little-girl-cryingJo M. Guerrero writes that when her daughter was five, she disobeyed her and was sent to her room. After a few minutes, she went in to talk to her about why she was being punished. With tears in her eyes, the little girl asked, “Why do we do wrong things?”

“Well,” Jo answered, “Sometimes the devil tells us to do something wrong and we listen to him. We need to learn to listen to God instead.”

Her daughter sobbed in reply, “But God doesn’t talk loud enough!”

Truth is, God speaks plenty loud enough. We just need to do what he says.

“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands.”—1 John 2:3.

 

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I Like My Version Better

Posted on July 30, 2015 by jesustrek

Bible_KJVA preacher was reading John 14 from a modern translation in a Bible study group. He read, “In my Father’s house are many dwelling places.”

Immediately, an elderly lady stopped him and said, “I want you to read that Scripture again—this time from my Bible. I’ve lived in old, run-down houses all my life, and I’m looking forward to living in a mansion!”

No matter what version you read from, Jesus is preparing a wonderful place where those who follow him can live with him forever. Don’t miss it for the world!

“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”—John 14:2.

 

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Full of Hope

Posted on July 28, 2015 by jesustrek

fishermanIs there anyone more hopeful than the avid fisherman? He is always optimistic that the fish will start biting any time. Surely moving just a few yards downstream will bring a change of fortune. Any hint of a bite must be a huge fish that is about to be caught. If the line goes slack, not to worry—that fish will be right back!

Without hope, it would be difficult to fish. And without hope, life would be a miserable existence.

The New Testament often reminds Christians of the great hope we have in Jesus Christ. A hopeless Christian is a contradiction in terms. The salvation that we have been given through Jesus and the assurance of eternal life in heaven give us all we need to experience a life that is filled with hope.

“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.”—Romans 5:5.

 

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Touch ‘Em All!

Posted on July 27, 2015 by jesustrek
Missed it by that much!

Missed it by that much!

In a recent Class A minor league baseball game, the Delmarva Shorebirds trailed the Augusta Greenjackets 4-3 in the top of the ninth inning. Then, Shorebirds outfielder Elier Leyva hit a 2-run homer that put his team up by one.

Or, so it seemed. As he finished his tour around the bases, Leyva failed to touch home plate. The Greenjackets players noticed the mistake and appealed to the umpires, who then called Leyva out.

The game went into extra innings, and Augusta won by a score of 5-4.

This was a classic case of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory!

Too many Christians think they have it made because they once made a decision to follow Christ. The Bible consistently urges us to persevere in the faith, and it contains dire warnings for those who fail to remain faithful.

Make sure you touch home plate!

“…Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.”—Revelation 2:10.

 

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Taking Out the Romance

Posted on July 25, 2015 by jesustrek

bride and groomI have been wondering how the wording would be changed on marriage licenses in Kentucky after the United States Supreme Court ruling that effectively legalized gay marriage. I need wonder no more. I just got a look at the updated paperwork. Instead of “bride” and “groom”, the form says “first party” and “second party”.

That doesn’t seem very romantic!

“But at the beginning of creation God made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one.”—Mark 10:6-8.

Now that’s romance!

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Love Your Enemies

Posted on July 24, 2015 by jesustrek
Leroy Smith helps a demonstrator

Leroy Smith helps a demonstrator

Angry demonstrations took place in Columbia, South Carolina last weekend. White supremacists faced off against counter-protesters. The mounting tensions were aggravated by the sweltering 100-degree temperatures.

One of the white supremacists was overcome by the oppressive heat. He was escorted to a cooler spot by Leroy Smith, a black man who runs the state Department of Public Safety. Someone took a photo of this extraordinary act of kindness, and the picture has gone viral on the Internet.

It’s good that such acts of love get publicized. Leroy Smith was doing what Jesus tells his followers to do.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…”—Matthew 5:43-44.

 

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Showing Some Class

Posted on July 22, 2015 by jesustrek
Jordan Spieth

Jordan Spieth

Jordan Spieth narrowly missed a date with history on Monday when he came within one shot of making a playoff for the British Open championship. A win would have given him three victories in majors in one year, something that has only been done twice before.

Spieth showed a lot of grace in defeat. His post-tournament interviews earned him a lot of respect. He even came back out to watch Zach Johnson win the tournament, and gave him a congratulatory hug. Tim Dahlberg says this about Spieth– “Something he also tends to do is pay respect to the game and its fans. He’s been described as a young man with an old man’s wisdom, and it showed in the way he took what had to be a most bitter defeat.”

Johnson also showed a lot of class in winning the championship. His tearful humility was refreshing, and his willingness to thank God was heart-warming.

Professional golf certainly can benefit from its stars showing some class. A few years ago, one of golf’s best players was known for being able to drive the ball a mile, but also for trying to see how many beers he could force into his sizeable body when he was off the course.

Another star was quite adept at shouting obscenities every time he hit a great shot. He also earned headlines for his wildly immoral sexual escapades.

Yes, it sure is good to see some class on display.

“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”—Matthew 5:16.

 

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Misplaced Outrage

Posted on July 21, 2015 by jesustrek

AbortionA recently released undercover video shows an official of Planned Parenthood discussing how to preserve body parts from aborted babies so that these organs may be used for medical research. The video, which contains some graphic descriptions, has caused quite a bit of outrage.

I find this discussion perplexing. Why is it that some people are more concerned with what happens to the organs of the dead babies than the fact that the babies were killed in the first place!? It seems to me that they are missing the main point.

The main point is that abortion is wrong. The pro-life movement will remain strong as long as there are precious babies to defend. When science, faith and common sense are allowed to intersect, the argument for abortion rights crumbles.

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart…”—Jeremiah 1:5.

 

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